Tyre Upcycling: Turning Waste into Circular Value
Every year, billions of tyres are manufactured, serving a vital role in transportation across the globe. However, once these tyres reach the end of their life, they pose a significant environmental challenge. Their durability and non-biodegradable nature cause them to accumulate in landfills or scrapyards, contributing to pollution through leaching of harmful chemicals, fire hazards, and the creation of breeding grounds for disease-carrying pests.
Tyres are highly engineered composites made from a blend of materials designed to ensure strength, flexibility, and durability. On average, they consist of 10–40% natural rubber for elasticity, 20–60% synthetic rubber (such as styrene-butadiene and butadiene rubber) for abrasion resistance, 15–30% carbon black or silica as reinforcing fillers, 10–15% steel for structural support in belts and beads, and 3–8% textile fibres such as nylon, polyester, or rayon for stability.
In addition, 5–10% chemical additives (including sulphur for vulcanization, oils, antioxidants, and resins) are incorporated to enhance resistance to heat, oxidation, and UV degradation. These components work together to create tyres that can withstand heavy loads, high temperatures, and constant friction, making them critical to modern transport systems.
Microplastics: An Invisible Threat To Human Health
Microplastics have infiltrated the Earth’s ecosystem. They have been found in the air we breathe, in soils that grow our food, and in the oceans that sustain life. But the most recent alarming infiltration is the human body.
Harnessing Anaerobic Digestion For Biogas Production In Nigeria
KEY TAKEAWAYS: Nigeria’s reliance on fossil fuel generated GHG emissionsof 100.389MT CO2 in the year 2022, ranking Nigeria to be 4th largest emitter of carbon in Africa. Anaerobic digesters are a great innovation for the country’s renewable energy options. Nigeria has abundant sources of organic waste suitable for biogas production. For instance cattle waste alone has the potential of yielding about 25.53 billion cubic meters of biogas about 169 541.66 MWh of electricity and 88.19
The Impact Of Deforestation On Nigeria’s Biodiversity: Causes And Consequences
KEY TAKEAWAYS Nigeria’s forests host an impressive array of biodiversity. Deforestation and biodiversity loss are deeply interlinked, with one exacerbating the other. As forests degrade, biodiversity declines, weakening natural resilience to climate change, and reducing crucial ecological services. Drivers of deforestation in Nigeria include agricultural expansion, logging (both legal and illegal), and urbanization. The projected consequences of deforestation in Nigeria are vital and must be eluded. Effective remediation requires strengthened policy enforcement, sustainable agricultural practices,